Topaz Selects Card Connection as Exclusive Greetings Card Supplier

By: Card Connection | 6 Shares 124 Reads

September 06, 2011 // Franchising.com // Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has today announced that it has been selected to supply the major Irish fuel and convenience brand, Topaz, on an exclusive basis. Card Connection's four franchisees based within the region will now deliver and merchandise the company's quality range of greeting cards to 120 Topaz forecourts throughout the Republic of Ireland.

"Topaz has redefined the service station experience for Irish consumers in recent years," confirms Andrew Cutler, sales and franchise director, Card Connection. "Topaz is much more than just a fuel retailer and offering Card Connection's range of almost 1,500 greeting cards will now help to extend the company's offering within its convenience stores even further.

"Our franchisees first began the roll-out of Card Connection seasonal stock in time for last Christmas," continues Cutler. "This was a challenge given the unprecedented weather conditions, but our franchisees delivered! Despite the difficult economic situation in the region, the greeting card market remains buoyant and we are looking forward to continuing to supply Topaz stores through our strong franchise network and helping the forecourt managers to add new revenue streams through the sale of our products."

As well as many independent stores, Card Connection franchisees throughout the UK and Ireland also supply other key national accounts, including the likes of: BP, Costcutter, Londis, Netto, Budgens, Spar and Haldanes.

Card Connection is part of UK Greetings, the largest publicly owned greeting card publisher in the world and has limited vacancies for franchisees who are keen to run an expanding business. Successful candidates would ideally have some management experience as, once established, they would be expected to employ a small team, operate a warehouse and have several liveried vans on the road.

Because the franchise networks in the UK and Ireland are complete, the available opportunities now consist of acquiring an already-established territory from an existing franchisee. These vary in price according to their level of development, but start at £20,000 (+ stock) with earnings potential in excess of £50,000 per annum. For further information please visit: www.card-connection.co.uk

About Card Connection

Card Connection is one of the UK's most successful card publishers and is the market leader in the franchised distribution of greeting cards.

The company was established in 1992 and became a Full Member of the British Franchise Association in 1995. It now distributes greeting cards to around 15,000 outlets through its network of 85 franchisees.

About Topaz

The Topaz brand was established in 2008 after an investment group led by Ion Equity bought and merged the Irish businesses of Shell and Statoil. The company employs more than 1,300 people and has an annual turnover of €2.35 billion. Topaz is the biggest fuels and convenience retailer in the country. It is also one of the leading suppliers of home heating oil and aviation fuel. The company is the number one operator of fuel cards in Ireland and is also a leading supplier of lubricants. For the last three years its employees have voted it as one of the Best Workplaces in Ireland.

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